Melbourne City claimed the local bragging rights as they prevailed 2-1 at Melbourne Victory in a spicy A-League derby encounter.

Carl Valeri's rash tackle on City's Michael Jakobsen inside the first 20 second sparked pushing and shoving between the sides and referee Peter Green had brandished three yellow cards by the 12th minute.

Rhys Williams became the third Victory player into the book for a scissoring challenge in the 32nd minute that forced Osama Malik to limp off with a hip problem.

Replacement Marcin Budzinski made a swift impact by clattering his maiden City goal into the roof of the net in first-half stoppage time.